Sophomore Bill Belton, a converted wideout, is next on the Penn State depth chart, and that could prove to be a challenge as O'Brien tries to transform the offense on the fly.

Out west, Redd joins a team that finished 10-2 and No. 6 in the final AP poll last season despite its own NCAA sanctions _ bowl ineligibility and a smaller roster. After Barkley and safety T.J. McDonald decided in December to return for their senior years, USC signed a top-flight recruiting class led by elite quarterback prospect Max Browne.

“We welcome Silas Redd to the Trojan Family,” USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement. “He is an outstanding student and athlete.”

USC had been sanctioned for rules violations committed during the 2004 and `05 seasons.

“At USC, we’ve seen both sides of this issue, having lost a number of players to transfer due to our NCAA sanctions in 2010. But Lane Kiffin and his coaches would not be doing their job if they did not try to improve our team every single day,” Haden said. “There is a specific need here for a player like Silas Redd, so Lane and our coaches recruited him within the guidelines set up in this instance by the NCAA.”

Fortt wore No. 11 at Penn State _ a distinction at a program that boasts the nickname “Linebacker U.” Former Redskins standout LaVar Arrington and current 49ers linebacker Navorro Bowman each wore the number at Penn State.

Fortt had surgery this spring on his right kneecap. Guy Fortt said it’s possible that his son may redshirt this season at Cal, a school that Fortt liked during a high school recruiting visit.

Highly regarded out of high school, Fortt made 11 tackles in his only career start, as a freshman. He had 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks while playing in every game last season as a top backup.